Celebrating Three Decades of Excellence: Unveiling Section V's Lacrosse Icons
Identifying the Elite: Defining High School Lacrosse Greatness
For three decades, Section V girls' lacrosse has been a hotbed of exceptional athletic talent. This article aims to identify and celebrate the truly outstanding individuals who have left an indelible mark on the sport during their high school careers. While collegiate accomplishments are noted for additional context, the primary focus remains on the players' contributions and impact at the high school level, specifically those who competed after the section's official debut in 1995. This compilation represents a curated selection, acknowledging that many more deserving athletes could be included.
Hilary Bowen: A Dynamo from Brighton's Golden Era
Hilary Bowen emerged as a pivotal figure during Brighton's dominant period in Section V girls' lacrosse throughout the 2000s. A celebrated inductee into the Greater Rochester Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2017, Bowen garnered three All-American honors and was twice named Monroe County Player of the Year. Her leadership was instrumental in guiding Brighton to consecutive New York state championship games, culminating in a victory in 2005. Following her high school success, Bowen continued her illustrious career at Northwestern University, where she played a key role in securing four NCAA titles and earned two championship MVP awards.
Erin Coykendall: A Record-Breaker from Spencerport
Erin Coykendall, a 2019 high school graduate, remains a standout in New York state lacrosse history due to her remarkable productivity. She holds the state record with an astonishing 303 assists and ranks second all-time in total points with 638. Coykendall was a four-time All-Greater Rochester selection and received first-team all-state honors in 2018, the inaugural year for such recognition in girls' lacrosse. Her post-high school career saw her become a leading scorer for the Northwestern team that clinched the NCAA title in 2023.
Taylor D'Amore: Canandaigua's Two-Time Player of the Year
Taylor D'Amore holds the distinction of being the first athlete to be named All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year twice, achieving this in 2009 and 2010. She concluded her varsity career with an impressive 251 goals and 231 assists, leading Canandaigua to two Section V titles. Even a decade after her high school graduation in 2010, D'Amore was recognized as the AGR Player of the Decade for the 2010s by the Democrat and Chronicle. She continued her lacrosse journey at Johns Hopkins University.
Abbey Friend: A Driving Force in Canandaigua's Championship Success
Abbey Friend was another integral player in Canandaigua's back-to-back section championship victories. She earned two All-American selections and three All-Greater Rochester honors. In 2020, she was also named to the AGR All-Decade team for the 2010s. During her senior year, Friend achieved an impressive 84 goals and 52 assists. She went on to play for North Carolina, where she was a three-time All-ACC first-team selection.
Emily Hawryschuk: A Midfield Maestro Who Dominated Across Schools
Emily Hawryschuk's high school career was marked by excellence despite a mid-career transfer. She was recognized on two All-America teams during her junior and senior years. As a midfielder, she guided Victor to the Class B section title in 2015, netting 89 goals and earning the sectional tournament MVP award that spring. Hawryschuk was a three-time All-Greater Rochester selection and a member of the AGR All-Decade team for the 2010s. At Syracuse University, she became the program's all-time leading goal scorer with 272 goals and ranks fourth in career points with 341.
Elizabeth Hogan: Victor's Stalwart Goaltender
Elizabeth Hogan, a member of the inaugural All-Greater Rochester team in 2007, was a prominent goaltender for Victor before the program's consistent rise to power. She concluded her varsity career with 952 saves and an impressive 67% save percentage. Beyond her high school achievements, Hogan garnered numerous Big East accolades, ranks second in Syracuse history for career saves, and holds the program's single-season save record. She is one of only three players in team history to receive Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Whitney Michele: East Rochester's Offensive Star
Whitney Michele was a three-time All-American and a two-time Monroe County Player of the Year for the now-defunct East Rochester program in the 2000s. She participated in four consecutive Section V championship games, leading the Bombers to the state final in both 2002 and 2003. Michele continued her lacrosse career at UConn, where she became one of the program's all-time leading scorers by the time of her graduation.
Heidi Rothfuss: Penfield's Trailblazing Lacrosse Pioneer
Heidi Rothfuss was a foundational figure in Section V girls' lacrosse, starring for Penfield in the 1990s as one of the sport's original players. She earned All-American status in 1997 and was inducted into the Greater Rochester Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2016. Rothfuss later played at Penn State and enjoyed a successful coaching career in Section V, guiding Pittsford to multiple championships.
Andra Savage: A Small-School Scoring Sensation from Palmyra-Macedon
Andra Savage, one of only two "small school" players on this initial list, was a prolific scorer for Palmyra-Macedon in the 2010s. She finished her varsity career with 288 goals, placing her 25th all-time in state history. Had the 2020 season not been canceled, Savage likely would have challenged Section V's all-time goals record. As a midfielder, she was a three-time All-Greater Rochester selection and was named second-team all-state as a junior. She later attended Niagara University, where she tied the MAAC conference's single-season goals record.
Danielle Spencer: Brighton's Two-Way Force and Future Coach
Danielle Spencer was another vital member of Brighton's dominant lacrosse program in the 2000s and was inducted into the Greater Rochester Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2018. Spencer was part of Brighton's state championship team in 2005 and a state finalist in 2004. In 2006, she received All-American honors. Like many of her peers, Spencer continued her athletic career at Northwestern, where she excelled as a top offensive player. Currently, Spencer serves as the head coach for Stanford's women's lacrosse team.
